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CA, PP, Monty Roberts and the like, have one thing in common and it's NOT training. It is simply EGO. If you can really walk the walk, you don't need the limelight to validate you. I personally know of some excellent trainers. They are local, get the job done right every time. They don't need to hire students to do their work. They have time to do the work themselves because they aren't spending it in front of a camera puffing up like a banty rooster.

My guess is that these guys aren't making a great wage-- either in a year or over a 40 year career. How much can you get paid to start colts or fix the bad ones.... before you get hurt or worn out?

It's not just for reasons of ego that many horse trainers have to figure out a way to do something other than just ride and ride.

You, who are or have been, in "Texas hill country" are suffering from a drought of one sort or another.. Weather related, or are you in dire need of a relaxing cocktail? Whichever is the case, you are not reflecting well on your welcoming heritage.

I have never been in, nor do I know anyone from Texas hill country, so I can't tell if you are both representatives of, or if you are the antithesis of, "Texas hill country" behavior.

You, who are or have been, in "Texas hill country" are suffering from a drought of one sort or another.. Weather related, or are you in dire need of a relaxing cocktail? Whichever is the case, you are not reflecting well on your welcoming heritage.

I have never been in, nor do I know anyone from Texas hill country, so I can't tell if you are both representatives of, or if you are the antithesis of, "Texas hill country" behavior.

Well, a soothing Pepsi would be nice about now.

Texas, when I lived there, in and around the hill country can be both welcoming and pretty prickly. I still have family there. Family which goes back, waaayyyy back.

I'm not a NH person, really. I don't label myself as anything other than a horse person.

For me, I don't get to work my horses consistently thanks to my job and the emergencies that crop up with it. If I worked with them daily, I think I would do very little ground work (because we would move through things faster).

I like them leading well, stopping when I stop and walking when I walk. On the longe line, I want them to walk, trot, and canter from voice commands and make upward and downward transitions. I want them to learn to carry a saddle and bridle.

Then I long line them/line drive them so they learn some cues with the bridle.

Then it is time to get on them. With the green horses, I tend to longe them before I ride to get their mind on the task ahead (being ridden) but my ultimate goal is to get where I don't longe before I get on.

Did I answer your question or did I misunderstand? My goal is just to get their mind in the game, get them some basic skills, and and desensitize them to carrying a saddle and bridle before I get on.

Nope, you answered the question. Thanks.

And I do what you do, looking for the same things. I started a thread dedicated to this question because, who knows? Maybe some of these groundwork gurus knows something that you and I don't..... 'cause I just.can't.figure.out what they are doing for, say, more than a week on the ground only.

If they're as rude as you are, then I'm pretty relieved I'm not one of them. Whoever "they" are.

Crone, can I ask why are you snarky all of the time? I know some people find it witty but I think you're abrasive and mean. Your posts, which seem to be for entertainment solely (and oddly self-depricating), are tiring - always looking for a stroke or a fight. I find it sad.

And I do what you do, looking for the same things. I started a thread dedicated to this question because, who knows? Maybe some of these groundwork gurus knows something that you and I don't..... 'cause I just.can't.figure.out what they are doing for, say, more than a week on the ground only.

I need to go find that thread - so maybe I can be enlightened. I do ground work for more than a week, but that's because I so rarely get to be consistent. I love it when life/emergencies/rescue doesn't intrude and I can really work with a horse consistently and see improvement. (Although that makes me curse the interruptions more!).

Crone, can I ask why are you snarky all of the time? I know some people find it witty but I think you're abrasive and mean. Your posts, which seem to be for entertainment solely (and oddly self-depricating), are tiring - always looking for a stroke or a fight. I find it sad.

SNARKY.... love that WORD! It tends to reflect that those that use it are still in their adolescence. If you don't like the posts block the person. They can still see your posts, but you won't have the privilege of being entertained by theirs. And horses die in all sorts of places.

The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.

My guess is that these guys aren't making a great wage-- either in a year or over a 40 year career. How much can you get paid to start colts or fix the bad ones.... before you get hurt or worn out?

It's not just for reasons of ego that many horse trainers have to figure out a way to do something other than just ride and ride.

One trainer friend paid off her farm with the wages she makes from horse training and the two others I know are booked for months out. That means they are making a decent living. They love their work and they don't need a camera in the arena.

And I do what you do, looking for the same things. I started a thread dedicated to this question because, who knows? Maybe some of these groundwork gurus knows something that you and I don't..... 'cause I just.can't.figure.out what they are doing for, say, more than a week on the ground only.

This is what I'd consider ground work and it can become an art. Whole different animal than what the "half hour wonders" do. Pun intended.

"I've spent most of my life riding horses. The rest I've just wasted". - Anonymous

Yeah, let's make something out of a molehill. If you could just imagine, just see what I was saying, you'd have a clue. Take it in context, m'dear. I said that part of my fam is from the hill country and had been there for ages. See if you can follow the rest of the line of thinking. May be hard but you might be up to the job. Sheesh. Really?? You can't follow this?? Wow...